Mostefa Ben-Boulaïd () (5 February 1917 – 22 March 1956) was an Algerian revolutionary leader.
Biography
World War II
Ben-Boulaid was born in
Arris
In architecture, an arris is the sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces, such as the corner of a masonry unit;
the edge of a timber in timber framing; the junction between two planes of plaster or any intersection of divergent a ...
,
Batna Province
Batna Province (, Latn, ar, Wilāyat Bātnah) is a provinces of Algeria, province of Algeria, in the region of Aurès. The capital is Batna (city), Batna. Localities in this province include N'Gaous, Merouana and Timgad. Belezma National Park i ...
,
Algeria
Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...
. In 1939, he underwent mandatory military service and was mobilized to fight for the allies during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. In 1944, during the Italian campaign, Ben-Boulaid exhibited courage, which earned him the Military Medal and the
Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
. He was demobilised with the rank of adjutant, returned home, and joined the
Algerian People's Party
The Algerian People's Party, was a successor organization of the North African Star, led by veteran Algerian nationalist Messali Hadj. It was formed on March 11, 1937. In 1936, the Etoile Nord Africaine (ENA), its predecessor, had joined the Fren ...
.
Revolutionary figure
Ben-Boulaid became an important political and military figure in the
Special Organization (OS). He bought weapons with his own funds, supported militants being pursued by the French authorities and distributed arms.
Ben-Boulaid contested the
Assembly of Algeria election of 1948 and won decisively. However, the colonial administration annulled the election.
He was a founding member of the
Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action Revolutionary Committee for Unity and Action (in French: ''Comité Révolutionnaire d'Unité et d'Action'') was a militant group in Algeria formed in order to fight French rule. CRUA regrouped former elements of the OS and radical members of the ...
. From 22 to 25 June 1954, he chaired a crucial meeting which aimed to unite the revolutionary forces. He became a member of the "Committee of the Six" ( the insurgent leaders). During the
Algerian war
The Algerian War (also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence) ''; '' (and sometimes in Algeria as the ''War of 1 November'') was an armed conflict between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front (Algeri ...
, Ben-Boulaid was responsible for Area I (
Aurès
Aurès () is a natural region located in the mountainous area of the Aurès Mountains, Aurès range, in eastern Algeria. The region includes the provinces of Algeria, Algerian provinces of Batna Province, Batna, Tebessa Province, Tebessa, Consta ...
).
He engaged heavily armed French forces and suffered heavy losses. In 1955, he traveled to
Libya
Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...
to purchase arms.
He participated in the battle of Ifri el blah and the battle of Ahmar Khaddou near
Batna.
Arrest and escape
On 11 February 1955, Ben-Boulaid was arrested in Tunisia. Ben-Boulaid was imprisoned at "Coudiat Jail", the "Central Prison of
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
* Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine g ...
" and was sentenced to death. In November 1955, he escaped along other inmates, with the complicity of a prison warden, Djaffer Chérif, also called Lakhdar, who was a Chaoui from Béni Frah. One of the other prisoners was
Tahar Zbiri
Tahar Zbiri (; 4 April 1929 – 30 October 2024) was an Algerian military officer, best known for his role in the country's post-independence military and political developments, particularly his involvement in an attempted coup against the gov ...
, who went on to initiate a failed coup against President
Houari Boumediene Houari is a given name and surname. It may refer to:
Persons Given name
*Houari Boumédiène, also transcribed Boumediene, Boumedienne etc. (1932–1978), served as Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Algeria from 19 June 1965 until 12 Decembe ...
in 1967.
During the escape, one of Ben-Boulaid's comrades was injured, recaptured, and subsequently
decapitated
Decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and all vertebrate animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common ...
.
Death
On 21 March 1956, Ben-Boulaïd died in the blast of a parachuted French radio bomb.
Gallery
File:Benboulaid buste.jpg, The bust of Mostefa Ben-Boulaïd in Arris
In architecture, an arris is the sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces, such as the corner of a masonry unit;
the edge of a timber in timber framing; the junction between two planes of plaster or any intersection of divergent a ...
Wilaya of Batna
File:Tombe nara.jpg, The tomb of Si Moustefa (right) and his companion Amrani (left) in Nara, Arris wilaya of Batna
File:Mustapha Ben boulaïd.jpg, Photo taken after his arrest (11 February 1955)
Legacy
The main squares of Batna and Arris host busts of Ben-Boulaid. In Batna, an alley and a high school was named for him. In
Annaba
Annaba (), formerly known as Bon, Bona and Bône, is a seaport city in the northeastern corner of Algeria, close to the border with Tunisia. Annaba is near the small Seybouse River and is in the Annaba Province. With a population of about 263,65 ...
, one of the avenues that connects Bertagna boulevard (formerly Cours Bertagna) and the Avenue of the Revolution bears his name as do the neighborhoods of Saint-Cloud, Plaisance and Kouba, and beaches and Chapuis Toche. The airport of
Batna is named after Ben-Boulaid.
In culture
In 2006-2007,
Ahmed Rachedi produced a documentary ' in collaboration with the Ministry of Veterans (''Ministère des Moudjahidine'') and the Ministry of Culture (''Ministère de la culture et l'entreprise'') and Missane Balkis films. It was part of the 2007 festival, "Algiers, Capital of Arab Culture" ("''Alger, capitale de la culture arabe 2007")''.
See also
*
Declaration of 1 November 1954
The "Declaration of 1 November 1954" is the first independentist appeal addressed by the National Liberation Front (Algeria), National Liberation Front (FLN) to the Algerian people, marking the start of the Algerian Revolution and the armed action ...
*
History of Algeria
Much of the history of Algeria has taken place on the fertile coastal plain of North Africa, which is often called the Maghreb. North Africa served as a transit region for people moving towards Europe or the Middle East, thus, the region's inhabi ...
*
Krim Belkacem
Krim Belkacem ( or ) (September 14, 1922 – October 18, 1970) was an Algerian revolutionary and politician who was a notable figure during the Algerian War. As vice-president of the GPRA, he was the sole signatory of the Évian Accords on the ...
Further reading
*''Au forgeron de Batna'', Jean-Pierre Marin, foreword by Jean Deleplanque
''Au forgeron de Batna'' at Google Books.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benboulaid, Mustapha
1917 births
1956 deaths
Algerian People's Party politicians
Algerian guerrillas killed in action
Algerian revolutionaries
Berber rebels
Chaoui people
French Army personnel of World War II
People from Batna Province
Members of the National Liberation Front (Algeria)
20th-century Algerian people
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)